Some of the world’s most beautiful hotel pools float improbably above cities.
Others dissolve into tropical horizons, sit framed by mountains, olive groves or centuries-old villas. Each promise that rare sensation luxury travel does best: the feeling of arriving somewhere transportive. Here are the ones we’re currently dreaming about diving into.
Beautiful hotel pools around the world
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Amanruya, Bodrum, Turkey
Tucked into pine-covered hills on the Bodrum Peninsula, Amanruya feels less resort-like, more Mediterranean village. The main pool sits at the heart of the property, framed by honey-colored stone architecture inspired by traditional Ottoman design. Surrounded by cypress trees and olive groves, its turquoise surface mirrors the surrounding landscape. While each pavilion also features its own private plunge pool, the central, 50m pool remains the social soul of the property.
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Romeo Roma, Rome, Italy
Romeo Roma, the final project by the late architect Zaha Hadid, was originally expected to open in 2016, but was delayed for almost a decade after archaeological ruins were uncovered during construction. Now, thanks to the preservation of the site, the property is home to one of the most unusual pools in Rome. Suspended above the remains of the 16th-century Ripetta port, the hotel’s glass-bottom pool allows guests to look directly down onto the preserved ruins beneath the water while swimming. The indoor-outdoor pool sits atop the hotel’s terrace, which also offers views across Rome’s rooftops and domes.
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Kuda Villingili Resort Maldives
While many resorts in the Maldives are home to impressive infinity pools, Kuda Villingili Resort Maldives holds the title for the longest pool in the country. The 492-ft swimming pool runs through the center of the resort towards the ocean, lined with palms and cabanas. Inside the pool are submerged loungers designed for long afternoons in the sun, as well as Jacuzzis and shallower sections for families. And, should that still not feel like enough space to submerge, the resort’s 75 villas and residences each come with their own private pool, and the surrounding ocean offers swimming, snorkeling, diving, and surfing.
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Estelle Manor, Oxfordshire, England
Set within 85 acres of Oxfordshire parkland, Estelle Manor has quickly become one of Britain’s most sought-after countryside escapes. The hotel’s heated outdoor pool sits on the South Terrace, overlooking sweeping lawns and gardens that embody the stately elegance of a classic English country estate. Loungers and parasols give the pool area the feel of a refined Riviera beach club, albeit one framed by rolling countryside. For Londoners in the know, this has become the ultimate summer retreat.
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Wild Hill, Maasai Mara, Kenya
At Wild Hill, the beauty of the swimming pool is in the setting. Built into Kileleoni Hill – the highest point in the Maasai Mara – the five-room lodge overlooks the Ol Choro and Enonkishu Conservancies, with uninterrupted views across the plains and the wildlife below. The pool and adjoining hot tub sit right on the edge of the hill, making the landscape the main attraction. With a maximum of 14 guests staying at the property at any one time, the chances of enjoying the pool and view all to yourself are fairly high.
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Grand Hotel Tremezzo, Lake Como, Italy
If there is one pool that defines Italian lake glamour, it belongs to Grand Hotel Tremezzo on Lake Como. The hotel’s iconic ‘water-on-the-water’ pool appears to float directly on the lake itself, with the mountains and pastel villages of the shoreline forming a spectacular backdrop. Originally opened in 1910, this Belle Époque hotel has long been a favorite among well-heeled travelers, and its pool perfectly captures that sense of timeless dolce vita. Swimming here – with Bellagio shimmering in the distance – feels like stepping into a vintage Italian postcard.
See also: The Unmissable Gardens of Luxury Hotels
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Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui, Thailand
Dramatically cascading down a lush hillside on Koh Samui, Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui is perhaps best known as a filming location for The White Lotus. Its hillside infinity pools – including the resort’s central swimming pool – appear to spill seamlessly into the turquoise waters of the Gulf of Thailand below. Framed by coconut palms and jungle greenery, the setting feels almost unreal in its beauty.
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Soho House Mexico City, Mexico
Hidden within a restored 1930s mansion in Mexico City, the rooftop pool at Soho House Mexico City is effortlessly chic. Terracotta tiles, striped loungers, and trailing greenery give the space the feel of a private garden suspended above the city’s historic streets. It is intimate rather than expansive, but that’s precisely the appeal.
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Marina Bay Sands, Singapore
Few hotel pools are as instantly recognizable as the rooftop infinity pool at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore. Stretching across the landmark SkyPark, 57 floors above the city, it appears to spill directly into the skyline. The view – glass towers rising from tropical greenery below – is one of the most dramatic urban swimming experiences in the world.
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Amangiri, Utah, USA
In the desert landscapes of Utah, the pool at Amangiri is a masterclass in architectural restraint. Built around a towering sandstone rock formation, the pale stone pool seems to emerge naturally from the desert itself. As the light shifts throughout the day, the surrounding canyon walls glow in shades of amber and rose, transforming a simple swim into something almost meditative.
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Villa d’Este, Lake Como, Italy
Over the last 30 years, the pool at Villa d’Este has become an iconic emblem of the hotel and Lake Como itself. The dramatic pool floats on the lake, sitting on a teak-decked platform and framed by a lacquered wood balustrade, connected to the shore by a wooden walkway. While undeniably beautiful, it is also large enough for a proper swim, holding around 45,000 litres of water.
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Le Grand Mazarin, Paris, France
At Le Grand Mazarin, the pool feels particularly surprising given its location in the Marais – one of Paris’ oldest and most desirable neighborhoods, where space is limited, and hotel swimming pools are still relatively rare. The hotel itself is housed inside a traditional 14th-century building, so the wellness area had to feel in keeping with its historic surroundings. Hidden beneath the property, the pool features a detailed mosaic frescoed ceiling by artist Jacques Merle, inspired by the surreal, poetic world of Jean Cocteau and the myth of Narcissus.
How we chose the most beautiful hotel pools
Each hotel featured is independently selected by Elite Traveler’s editors and contributors, informed by first-hand reviews where possible and in-depth research where not. Our curation spans the world’s most luxurious brands, chosen for their uncompromising quality and exceptional craftsmanship.
